Lime and it's uses in the garden.

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Breaking up clay soils Sweetening Soils

Lime Chemical Symbol (CaO) Calcium Oxide

However it normally in gardening to obtain lime in the form of limestone [calcium carbonate (CaCO3)] , dolomitic limestone, or burnt lime. 

Breaking up clay soils

Lime (CaO) can act as a flocculating  or coagulant agent to bond the tiny particles of clay into a structure that allows water and air to permeate through.

Experiment by getting a sample of clay soil, sub soil is the best. Break this up into tiny pieces, mix and divide into two. In two jars add the clay and an equal amount of water. Replace the jar lids and agitate (shake up and down) The water will be muddy and will take some time to settle out. Time how long it takes for the clay to settle out. In one of the jars add some lime to it. Now agitate both jars again. This time the clay in the jar with the lime settles quicker. Since clay particles are very small they have very little mass and in water gravity as very little effect on the individual particles. However when lime is introduced the tiny particles bond together and the structure thus formed is affected more by gravity and hence drops to the bottom quicker.

Sweetening Soils

Lime can be added to soil as a 'sweetener'. In this context to sweeten means to reduce the acidity in the soil.
The same can be said for lime added to a compost heap. The decaying action of the vegetable matter creates acid and this can be too acidic, actually reduce further decay. Adding small amounts of lime will keep the acid level down and maintain decay. Bottled food is made more acidic to preserve it from decaying.

Lime is also a the name of a tree of the genus Tilia

Lime is also the name of a fruit grown belonging to the genus Citrus

 lime  listed on this website

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